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Leyland discusses upcoming roster cuts

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By Jason Beck
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MLB.com |

LAKELAND, Fla. -- Tigers manager Jim Leyland likes to say in many Spring Trainings that he can get a read on a lot of players trying to make the team by how they react when more cuts are made and the clubhouse starts emptying out. He had a new description for it on Sunday as he tried to warn reporters of what was ahead in the final two weeks of camp.

"It'll get real interesting here in a couple more days," Leyland said. "What happens is you get closer and closer and closer to the bell ringing, and sometimes guys respond differently. Some guys respond for the better, and some guys respond for the worse."

Wednesday's off-day, Leyland said, will be a separation point. The Tigers have had that off-day scheduled in most years midway through the next-to-last week of camp. It gives them about 10 days to focus on the roster spots still to be decided, get prospects back to their Minor League teams for more playing time, and try to judge if they need to make a move at the end.

Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.